Modesto couple charged with murder, torture in 3-year-old’s death; bail at $10 million

A mother and her fiancée pleaded not guilty to charges of murder and torture in the death of her 3-year-old son.

Bail was set at $10 million each for the couple, Connie Escamilla, 24, and Kylie Beasley, 20, at an arraignment in Stanislaus Superior Court on Monday afternoon. Both are charged with murder, mayhem, torture and child abuse.

The couple’s next court appearance, a pretrial hearing, was set for April 3.

The women, appearing before Judge Marie Silveira, denied all charges and special circumstances. The complaint charges Escamilla and Beasley with first-degree murder with the special circumstances of use of torture and commission of mayhem.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Annette Rees said no decision has been made on whether to seek the death penalty, which the special circumstances would allow.

In cases in which there is use of torture and mayhem, a killing is considered first-degree murder whether or not it was premeditated, said Stanislaus County district attorney spokesman John Goold.

The couple also is charged with a count of aggravated mayhem, one count of child abuse causing death, and one count of torture causing great bodily injury, all said to have occurred between Jan. 1 and Gilbert Escamilla’s death March 1. If convicted, the women would not be eligible to serve their sentences in county jail, the complaint adds.

On Wednesday, emergency crews were called to Emerald Pointe apartments on Standiford Avenue for a child not breathing. The child, Gilbert, was airlifted to Valley Children’s Hospital in Madera, but later died.

The child had burns, lacerations and bruises on his body, some old enough to indicate prolonged abuse, said Modesto Police Department spokeswoman Heather Graves.

The couple gave conflicting stories about what had happened to Gilbert, but Beasley is believed to have been the primary aggressor, Graves said.

Escamilla’s 7-year-old daughter, who had no visible injuries, was placed with Child Protective Services.

Neighbors at the apartment complex said the women had moved there a few months earlier, though none had seen the little boy. Graves said the couple had been together for about nine months, and police had been called to Escamilla’s home twice in the past six months.

In January, police responded to the apartment for a report of two women fighting, but were told only children had been arguing. In October, police were called to Escamilla’s home, then on California Avenue, also on reports of two women fighting, but she told them there had been no fight.

Investigators ask anyone with information to call Crime Stoppers at 209-521-4636. Callers to Crime Stoppers can remain anonymous and are eligible for a cash reward. Tipsters can also text information to Crime Stoppers at 274637; type “TIP704” along with the message.

This story was originally published March 6, 2017 at 2:56 PM with the headline "Modesto couple charged with murder, torture in 3-year-old’s death; bail at $10 million."